Lauren Prudhomme pursued her passion for sustainability as a student aid in the Office of Sustainability while she earned her degree in chemical engineering at UL Lafayette.
Lauren's interest in sustainability started when she traveled to a summer school in Belgium sponsored by VerTec, a coalition of francophone schools around the country centered around sustainability.
СAPPMy advisor was asked who would be great to send over there, so I was the undergrad student he thought of because I had been bothering him so much about recycling,СAPP Lauren said.
СAPPIСAPPve never been outside of Louisiana for an extended period of time, and I know things are run very differently everywhere else, but I had never seen it. So, we got to experience how a European country handles its waste disposal and city planning and clean water and infrastructure. It was really inspiring.СAPP
Along with her friend Julia Pasch, Lauren prepared for the trip to Belgium by listening to podcasts, reading, and educating herself as much as possible. Through this preparation, both discovered their passion for sustainability.
СAPPOne of the podcasts we listened to was about how some students at Penn State started their own organization, and I was like, Julia, why donСAPPt we do that?СAPP Lauren explained. СAPPSo we really hit the ground running, recruiting people from around the community to educate our members and looking for volunteer opportunities. ItСAPPs really taken off more than I ever expected.СAPP
Promoting Sustainability on Campus
With her enthusiasm from the conference, Lauren established the , a student organization on campus, and organized a lecture series called Sustainability Across Industries.
СAPPSustainability is not just reduce, reuse, recycle and plant trees,СAPP she explained. СAPPIt takes a lot of people from a lot of different areas of interest to collaborate. We wanted to highlight those areas you donСAPPt necessarily think of with sustainability.СAPP
Some of those areas included engineering, architecture, and sustainable business practices.
СAPPSo many people on campus care about these things, they just donСAPPt know that itСAPPs called sustainability and that other people on campus care about it,СAPP Lauren said. СAPPWeСAPPre all about engaging and connecting.СAPP
Some of the ways they engaged students was through volunteering for the and collaborating with .
СAPPWeСAPPre really trying to provide opportunities to not only do good work but also connect with people in the community,СAPP Lauren said.
Research Opportunities in Sustainability
Lauren transferred to UL Lafayette from Tulane СAPP at the end of her freshman year because she wanted more research experience.
СAPPOver there, I asked about research and they said, СAPPMaybe when youСAPPre a junior or senior,СAPPСAPP she recalled. СAPPI came over here and asked about research immediately, and they were like СAPPYeah, go ahead and work in the .СAPP I was super thankful that I made that decision because now my whole career is going to be research, so it helps to have a strong background in that.СAPP
LaurenСAPPs decision to major in chemical engineering was a combination of passion and encouragement.
СAPPI really like chemistry, I really like math, IСAPPm good at problem-solving and thinking on my feet,СAPP she said. СAPPHonestly, my high school chemistry teacher told me IСAPPd be good at it and thatСAPPs all it took.СAPP
As a student, she researched the protein characterization of biosolids (also known as human waste or sewage) to produce an all-natural glue under Dr. Mark Zappi in the Energy Institute. Although the original project utilized algae to produce the adhesive, it was not practical for public use.
СAPPThe public isnСAPPt swimming in algae like we are, but what are we swimming in?СAPP Lauren smirked. СAPPPoop. There will never be a shortage of it.СAPP
Lauren explained how, through a patented reaction, the researchers turn the pre-treated wastewater sludge into the glue.
СAPPIСAPPm taking those same biosolids and IСAPPm extracting the proteins because itСAPPs the proteins that are being modified through this reaction,СAPP she continued. СAPPTurns out itСAPPs very difficult to take the proteins out of poop.СAPP
Being a Woman in STEM
Despite her achievements in her studies, Lauren has encountered obstacles in her field, including being respected as a woman in STEM.
СAPPIt was little things that, after a while, you start to notice,СAPP she recalled. СAPPWhenever a guy asks a question and you answer it, then theyСAPPll ask a guy next to them the same exact question. Sometimes whenever youСAPPre questioning a guy, instead of hearing your actual question, heСAPPll just automatically assume you donСAPPt understand the fundamentals.СAPP
To combat this obstacle, Lauren partnered with engineering major Kyle Zappi to establish a STEM summer camp for to introduce underrepresented minorities to STEM. The summer camp eventually turned into weekly practices for a nearly all-girl Science Olympiad team at Holy Family.
СAPPWe cover every area of science and engineering and we teach them the fundamentals, but itСAPPs mainly about just coming back week after week and saying, СAPPHey, youСAPPre really good at this and you would make a great mechanical engineer one day. YouСAPPre going to be a great doctor one day,СAPP Lauren explained. СAPPThe whole idea is reinforcing that these young girls, even with the socioeconomic struggles they face, are still capable of doing anything.СAPP
From Lafayette to New York
LaurenСAPPs favorite thing about UL Lafayette is the culture and friendly environment.
СAPPWhenever I transferred here, (my programСAPPs) administrative assistant called me and set up a day for me to come in and take a tour,СAPP Lauren said. СAPPSheСAPPs like, СAPPIСAPPm everybodyСAPPs mama, you can come to me for everything,СAPP and I truly have. Everyone has been like that: so welcoming and positive and loving.
"I donСAPPt know if that happens anywhere else. ItСAPPs unique, I think, to Lafayette.СAPP
Lauren's now working on her Ph.D. in biomedical engineering at the City College of New York. Although she said she will miss UL Lafayette and the community, she feels she is highly prepared to make this leap in her career.
СAPPThereСAPPs so much opportunity for me here that I never would have thought would be here,СAPP she said. СAPPItСAPPs been one door after another being opened for me. ItСAPPs turned me into a completely different person that I never would have expected.СAPP
